Shut-off valve for high temperature erosive flow

ABSTRACT

A shut-off valve for high temperature erosive flow is disclosed having a valve and a valve engaging or seating portion in which substantial erosion of an area beginning at its initial erosion point adjacent the valve seat does not erode the valve seating portion of the valve seat and the valve seating portion of the valve member to prevent closing of the valve or to cause leaks. The valve has limited but enough universal movement to be self-seating to accommodate thermal growth. The valve and valve seat can be removed from the valve without taking the valve off the line. A number of embodiments are disclosed.

This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 06/352,492, filed Feb.25, 1982 which is a division of application Ser. No. 209,090 filed Nov.21, 1980.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

There has been a serious erosion problem with valves used in hightemperature erosive solid or fluid flow in that the valve seat orportions of the valve seat are eroded or abraded away by the flowcausing leaks and a failure of the valve to shut-off flow when desired.In addition, there is a problem with valves used for high temperatureerosive or abrasive flows to provide adequate seating and hence sealingof the valve member on the valve seat due to thermal growth caused bythe extremely high temperatures.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a shut-off valve suitable for usefor high temperature erosive flow, such as in refineries in whichconsiderable erosion of the flow passage adjacent the valve or a portionof the valve seat can and does take place without destroying the abilityof the valve to effectively shut-off flow through the valve and toprevent leaks.

The present invention is also directed to such a valve which compensatesfor thermal growth of the valve so that an effective shut-off by thevalve is provided under varying temperature conditions. In addition, thepresent invention is directed to such a valve for high temperatureerosive flow and to accomodate thermal growth in which the valve seatand valve can be removed for repair or replacement without removing thevalve from the line.

In short, the valve includes a body having a flow passage through it,the flow passage including an enlarged internal chamber. The valve isarranged so that the seating surface or portion of the valve seat andthe seating portion of the valve member are beyond the initial erosionpoint and a substantial distance downstream thereof, a substantialerosion area of the valve, so that the shut-off valve effectivelyshuts-off flow through the valve even though there is substantialerosion of the flow passage or a portion of the valve seat itself.

The valve member is constructed and arranged so that it's seatingportion adjustably seats on the valve seating surface effective tocompensate for thermal growth.

The valve is also constructed and arranged so that the valve seat,valve, and connecting and operable parts can be removed for repairs,replacements and the like without taking the valve off the line.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide ashut-off valve for high temperature erosive flow in which substantialerosion of the flow passage adjacent the valve seat or of a portion ofthe valve seat itself does not prevent effective shutting-off of flowthrough the shut off valve.

A further object of the invention is the provision of such a valve inwhich the seating portions of the valve seat and valve member are beyondand out of the direct flow path of the erosive flow through the valve.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of such avalve in which the seating portion of the valve member which seats onthe valve seating portion automatically accomodates and adjusts forthermal growth due to the high temperature abrasive flow through thevalve effective to provide a shut-off of flow under varying temperatureconditions.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of such avalve in which the valve seat, valve member, and connecting and operableparts are removable from the valve for replacement and repairs withoutremoving the valve from the line.

Other and further objects, features and advantages will be apparent fromthe following description of presently preferred embodiments of theinvention given for the purpose of disclosure and taken in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the valve according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line 2--2 of FIG. 1 andillustrating a presently preferred embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the valve seating and valvemember portions illustrating closing and sealing with considerableerosion of the valve.

FIG. 4 is a view similar to that of FIG. 3 illustrating a prior artvalve arrangement and showing that the same amount or area of erosion asthe valve in FIG. 3 prevents shut off of flow through the valve.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along the section line 5--5 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary view illustrating another embodiment of thevalve illustrated in FIG. 2.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary view illustrating the seating andsealing arrangement of the valve assembly of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged view similar to FIG. 7 illustrating a modificationof the valve of FIGS. 6 and 7.

DESCRIPTION OF PRESENTLY PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to the drawings, and particularly to FIG. 1, a valvegenerally indicated by the reference numeral 10 is illustrated which ishere shown as a powered shut-off valve in which the power cylinderarrangement 12 rotates a shaft 14 (not shown in this view butillustrated in FIGS. 2 and 5), for opening and closing the valve.

Referring now to FIG. 2, the valve 10 includes the valve body 16 throughwhich extends the flow passage 18 through the enlarged internal chamber20 and out the downstream passage 22.

The flow passage 18 has what may be referred to for convenience as anentry 24 into the enlarged internal chamber 20 of the valve body 16. Avalve seat 26 is releasably secured to the entry 24 of the flow passage18, such as by the bolts 28 against which a valve member 30 seats toshut off flow through the valve.

As best illustrated in FIG. 3, there is what may be termed an initialerosion point 32 adjacent and upstream of the entry 24 where erosioncaused by the erosive flow through the valve commences to occur.Normally, this erosion extends downstream into the valve seat 26 andprovides an area of erosion which begins at the initial erosion point 32and erodes downstream and, as here shown, ends at the downstream erosionpoint 34. In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, the valve seat26 has an outwardly tapering valve seating portion 36 extending in thedirection of flow and which is beyond in the direction of flow of theerosion area between the initial erosion point 32 and the downstreamerosion point 34. The valve member 30 has a valve seating portion 38which seats on the valve seating portion 36 beyond the erosion area asclearly illustrated in FIG. 3. Thus, although there is a substantialarea of erosion of the flow passage and a portion of the valve seat 26,the valve member 30 effectively seats and seals on the valve 26 toeffectively shut-off flow through the valve.

Referring now to FIG. 4 in which the reference letter "a" is added tocorresponding reference numerals of FIG. 3 for convenience of reference,a prior art valve is illustrated in which the valve seating portion 36aof the valve 26a and the valve seating portion 38a of the valve member30a are disposed so that the same area of erosion of the valveillustrated in FIG. 3 causes the valve seating portion 36a to be erodedof the prior art valve so that the closing of the valve member 30a doesnot effectively shut off flow through the valve and, accordingly, thevalve seat 26a must be removed and replaced much sooner and hence muchmore often than a valve according to the present invention asillustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, which greatly increases the expense ofmaintenance, operation and shut-down time of the valve.

Referring again to FIG. 2, the drive shaft 14 for rotating the valve 30into closed and open position is disposed in the enlarged internalchamber 20 and is offset from and out of the direct flow through theenlarged flow passage 20 and the discharge passage 22. In thisconnection, for convenience of reference, what is referred to as"direct" flow through the valve is a continuation of the tubular flowpassage 18 through the enlarged internal chamber 20 and out thedischarge 22.

As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 5, a split sleeve 40 is disposed about thepowered drive shaft 14 and is secured about it by means of the bolts 42although the split sleeve 40 may be so secured in any desired manner. Asbest shown in FIG. 2, the keys or splines 44 are provided to preventrelative rotation between the split sleeve 40 and the powered driveshaft 14.

A plate-like member 46 generally paralleling the valve member 30 and asecond plate-like member 48 generally transverse to the valve member 30are secured to one of the members of the split sleeve 40. A connectingmember 50 is connected to the members 46 and 48 by means of a pin 52which loosely extends through the opening 54. Similarly, the connectingmember 50 loosely fits between the connecting member 51 to permitlimited movement in a direction longitudinal to the path of flow throughthe valve. The valve member 30 is connected to the connecting member 50.

Thus, by means of the connection illustrated and described, the valvemember 30 can move universally with respect to the valve seat 26 and dueto the tapered valve seating portion 36 and the valve member engagingportion 38, thermal growth and shrinkage of the valve seat 26 and thevalve member 30 is accomodated due to the "float" of the valve member 30so that an effective seal is accomplished under various thermal growthand shrinkage conditions.

Referring now to FIGS. 6 and 7, another embodiment of the invention isillustrated in which the reference letter "b" has been added toreference numerals of FIGS. 1-5 for convenience of reference.

In this embodiment, the valve seat 26 has the projection 27 which servesas a continuation of the inlet flow passage 18b and has a valve seat 36which is disposed back of, above and around the entry of the flow intothe enlarged portion 20, which is engaged by the valve member seatingportion 38b.

As best seen in FIG. 7, the valve seat 27 has a tapered portion 29 onits outer portion and the valve member 30b has a correspondingly taperedportion 31 which engages and seats on the tapered portion 29 when thevalve is closed to prevent abrasive flow from flowing around theprojecting end of the valve seat 27 and up onto the valve seatingsurface or portion 36b and the valve member seating portion or surface38b. To assist in the sealing, a vented flexible metal tube 33 issecured to the valve seating area 36b and the valve engaging portion 38bof the valve member 30b has an annular groove 35 which engages anddeflects the resilient tube 33 thus providing a further seal against themetal resilient tube 33 to effect the closure. The metal tube 33 isvented to avoid pressure buildup and possible explosion of the tube ifsealed caused by high temperatures. The tube 33 can be vented in anydesired manner, such as one or more openings in its wall, not shown.

FIG. 8 illustrates a further modification of the valve shown in FIGS. 6and 7 and in which the reference letter "c" has been added to numeralscorresponding to those in FIGS. 6 and 7 for convenience of reference.This embodiment is identical to that of FIGS. 6 and 7 except that theouter portion of the annular groove 35c is cut away to provide thetapered surface 35c which engages against the flexible tube 33c andprovides an effectively sealed closure shutting-off flow through thevalve.

In both the embodiments of FIGS. 6 and 7 and of FIG. 8, it is seen thatthe seating of the valve member against the seating surface of the valveis away from and out of the direct flow of the erosive and abrasivefluids through the valve. Accordingly, considerable erosion of the valvecan occur and there still can be an effective closure of the valveshutting-off flow through it.

In the embodiments of FIGS. 6-8, inclusive, the remaining parts and themeans for closing and opening the valve are the same as those in FIGS.1-5, inclusive.

The body 12 comprises an outer shell 16 which can be constructed of lowcost, low temperature material such as carbon steel and includes theinsulation 60 which is a castable insulation, many of which areavailable on the open market, such as Resco RS-7.

If desired, the insulation may be a refractory material, such as formedof hexmesh and refractory material, many of which are commerciallyavailable, such as Resco RA-22.

Also, as best illustrated in FIG. 2, the orifice 25 is supported by atruncated cone 23 which is secured to the outer body shell 16. Thetruncated cone 23 is lined by a suitable lining material 21, such asTapco 257, a commercial hardfacing. Similar linings are provided for theorifice plate 25 and, as illustrated, suitable refractory insulation andhardfacing are provided which will withstand the conditions of use, allof which are readily available on the market.

As previously mentioned, the valve seat 26, the valve 30, and connectingparts to the powered shaft 14, can be removed from the valve 10 withouttaking it off the line by simply removing the bonnet 62 by loosing thebolts, not shown, which is of a size sufficient to permit passage ofthese components of the valve through it. Thus, the valve can stay online while repairs and replacements are made to the wear prone parts,thus avoiding substantial expense and shut-down time involved inremoving a valve from the line.

Since the embodiments of the invention can be utilized with a widevariety of valves, and means to open and close them, no more descriptionof a particular valve, such as illustrated in FIG. 1, is given or deemednecessary.

The present invention, therefore, is well suited and adapted to attainthe objects and ends and has the advantages and features mentioned aswell as others inherent therein.

While presently preferred embodiments of the invention have been givenfor the purpose of disclosure, changes can be made in them which arewithin the spirit of the invention as defined by the scope of theappended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A shut-off valve for high temperature erosive flow comprising,a body provided with a flow passage through it including an enlarged internal chamber, the downstream end of the flow passage projecting into the enlarged internal chamber, a valve seat having a valve seating portion disposed in the enlarged internal chamber about and upstream of the downstream end of the flow passage in the enlarged internal chamber, said valve seating portion projecting from the downstream end of the flow passage and having a tapered outer wall and a surface extending outwardly from said tapered outer wall, a resilient seal secured to said surface extending outwardly from said tapered outer wall, a valve member having a seating surface arranged to seat on the valve seating portion, the valve member valve seating surface having a tapered portion engaging the tapered outer wall and another portion extending outwardly engaging said resilient seal when seating against the valve seating portion, means disposed in the enlarged internal chamber operable to rotate the valve member to seat the valve seating surface thereof against the valve seating portion to close the valve and to rotate the valve member out of the direct flow through the flow passage to open the valve, said last-named means including a rotatably mounted shaft disposed in the enlarged internal chamber out of the erosive flow path, and means connecting the valve to the shaft effective so that rotation of the shaft rotates the valve member to open and close the valve as aforesaid, whereby, there is an effective shut-off by the valve when closed and the valve seating portion and the valve seating surface are out of the erosive flow path through the valve when the valve is open.
 2. The shut-off valve of claim 1 where,said resilient seal is a vented tube and where, the valve seating surface of the valve member has an annular groove adapted to sealingly engage the tube.
 3. The shut off valve of claim 2, where, the valve seating surface of the valve member has another tapered portion adapted to sealingly engage the vented tube.
 4. The shut-off valve of claims 1 or 5 where, the means operable to rotate the valve member include universal means providing rotational movement and longitudinal movement in the direction of said flow passage and connecting the valve member to the rotatably mounted shaft effective to accommodate thermal growth and shrinkage of the valve to sealingly seat the seating surface of the valve member against the valve seat.
 5. The shut-off valve of claim 1 where, said resilient seal is a vented tube disposed on said outwardly extending surface of said valve seating portion of said valve seat. 